Living the part Living the part

Diana Soviero chats with Roger Pines about six decades of performing, four decades of teaching, and how she’s handing the tradition off to the next generation.

Monkey business Monkey business

The Monkey King at San Francisco Opera combines spectacle and sentiment.

The open wound that will never heal The open wound that will never heal

In his new production that opens at San Francisco Opera this weekend, Matthew Ozawa is creating a Parsifal for the cancel culture age.

Act of contrition Act of contrition

The 25th anniversary revival of Dead Man Walking at San Francisco Opera is most moving in its quietest moments

Change my mind about Regietheater Change my mind about Regietheater

Carmen Paddock and Mr. Portafiori aren’t getting the hype behind Ivo van Hove, Krzysztof Warlikowski, and Calitxo Bieito

Down by the bay Down by the bay

Michael Anthonio crunches the numbers on San Francisco Opera’s recent seasons and goes straight to the top to General Director Matthew Shilvock for a look at where SF Opera has been and where it’s headed

Thoughts on <em>Andrea Chénier</em>: the opera Thoughts on <em>Andrea Chénier</em>: the opera

Doing my research for these “thoughts” ahead of a starry revival in London that opened yesterday, I came across the following review for the Opening Night of the 1962-63 Season.

Monuments man Monuments man

It has been a great season for prolific Bay Area composer Jake Heggie.

Tremens factus sum ego Tremens factus sum ego

One got a sense that the Met and the maestro directed most of the rehearsal and preparation toward the opening night premiere of the Heggie opus

Nun of a kind Nun of a kind

“None of that sentimental crap, okay?”

Return of the Merolini Return of the Merolini

On June 16, San Francisco Opera concluded their excellent Centennial Season with a heartfelt 100th Anniversary Concert, featuring a starry cast, three conductors (including current and former Music Directors) and the SF Opera Orchestra and Chorus.

Dream on Dream on

The second act of Dream of the Red Chamber reached the apex and provided the audience with soul-stirring fulfillment.

Standing woman Standing woman

It struck me that Jamie Barton’s voice is not dissimilar to a Henry Moore sculpture: grand and monumental but never brash or ostentatious; eccentric and offbeat but always graceful and tastefully molded.

Give me libertine Give me libertine

Ryan McKinny’s Don is subtler, slyer, smoother, with a sharp wit and sense of dark humor that gives added dimension to the role.

“Haven’t we all suffered enough?” “Haven’t we all suffered enough?”

Sunday’s matinee at Lyric Opera of Chicago was my first experience of Heggie and McNally’s 2000 opera Dead Man Walking. It certainly won’t be my last.

Dream a little dream of me Dream a little dream of me

“Who are you? Who do you want to be?” The search for one’s identity is explored in American composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer’s brand new opera If I Were You.

Barihunks without causes Barihunks without causes

La Cieca regrets to say it’s time to step back from the gratuitous display of bare skin in opera.

Okay by me in America Okay by me in America

Mariachi bands travel the world, make appearances in Hollywood, and moonlight on Linda Ronstadt albums.

C’est une chanson qui nous ressemble C’est une chanson qui nous ressemble

In September, Finnish National Opera gave the world premiere of Höstsonaten (Autumn Sonata), based on Mr. Bergman’s 1978 study of a troubled mother/daughter relationship.

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

The tendency to rank—to create subjective lists of best or greatest, or to organize things in ascending or descending order—is a human compulsion.

Ring cycle Ring cycle

Washington National Opera continued a focus on recent works this season with Terence Blanchard and Michael Cristofer’s 2013 opera Champion on the life of boxer Emile Griffith.

‘Dead Man,’ stumbling ‘Dead Man,’ stumbling

The opera is relentlessly obvious, a work that repeatedly turns to tired tropes and canned characters to fill up its nearly three hour run time.

Fan service Fan service

It’s hard to come up with any sensible reason to dislike Joyce DiDonato.